This course will be available on D2L on Monday, August 29, 2011. You will be enrolled into the site automatically. I will send more information about course access as we approach this date through MySJSU. The course content for MARA 285 is found on the D2L course site.

Course Description

Overview of research methods in the social sciences and their application to research about and within archives and records centers. Research design, human subjects, quantitative and qualitative methods, model studies, methodological critique and evaluation, data analysis and presentation. Not repeatable.

Prerequisites: None

Course Objectives

At the completion of the course, students will be able to:

retrieve, critically evaluate, and synthesize scholarly and professional literature

critically assess the different types of research methods (i.e., experimental, qualitative, participatory, etc.) and their applications

conduct a literature search and develop a literature review on a selected research topic using a variety of information soruces

design a research study and write a quality research proposal

utilize popular statistical analysis software for analysis of research data

demonstrate an understanding of the principles of ethical research and the importance of devising strategies to protect human subjects

MARA 285 supports the following MARA Core Competency:

Understand research design and research methods and possess the analytical, written, and oral communication skills to synthesize and disseminate research findings.

Course Requirements

Course AssignmentsA series of assignments will teach students how to choose an appropriate research method, design a research proposal, evaluate existing research literature, and employ different data analysis techniques.

Details for the assignments, including grading metrics/criteria, are contained in the file titled, "What to Expect, MARA 285, Fall 2011". This file is posted to the course site.

Students accumulate 100 points to determine the course grade. See grading below for details. Assignments turned in after the due date will be deducted one letter grade from that earned if the assignment were completed on time.

Research Topic Proposal Assignment (10 points, due week 2)

Research Critiques Assignment (10 points, due week 5)

Literature Review Assignment (20 points, due week 8)

Human Subjects Review Workshop Assignment (5 points, due week 11)

Data Collection Activity Report Assignment (15 points, due week 12)

Final Research Proposal Assignment (30 points, due week 15)

Participation - students will contribute to discussion activities, as assigned, using the appropriate discussion area on the course site (10 points)

Textbooks and Readings

Babbie, E. R. (2007). The Practice of Social Research. Belmont, CA: Thomson/Wadsworth. Available through Amazon: 0495093254

Grading Scale

The standard SJSU School of Information Grading Scale is utilized for all iSchool courses:

97 to 100

A

94 to 96

A minus

91 to 93

B plus

88 to 90

B

85 to 87

B minus

82 to 84

C plus

79 to 81

C

76 to 78

C minus

73 to 75

D plus

70 to 72

D

67 to 69

D minus

Below 67

F

In order to provide consistent guidelines for assessment for graduate level work in the School, these terms are applied to letter grades:

C represents Adequate work; a grade of "C" counts for credit for the course;

B represents Good work; a grade of "B" clearly meets the standards for graduate level work;For core courses in the MLIS program (not MARA) — INFO 200, INFO 202, INFO 204 — the iSchool requires that students earn a B in the course. If the grade is less than B (B- or lower) after the first attempt you will be placed on administrative probation. You must repeat the class the following semester. If -on the second attempt- you do not pass the class with a grade of B or better (not B- but B) you will be disqualified.

A represents Exceptional work; a grade of "A" will be assigned for outstanding work only.

Students are advised that it is their responsibility to maintain a 3.0 Grade Point Average (GPA).

University Policies

General Expectations, Rights and Responsibilities of the Student

As members of the academic community, students accept both the rights and responsibilities incumbent upon all members of the institution. Students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with SJSU's policies and practices pertaining to the procedures to follow if and when questions or concerns about a class arises. See University Policy S90-5 at http://www.sjsu.edu/senate/docs/S90-5.pdf. More detailed information on a variety of related topics is available in the SJSU catalog at http://info.sjsu.edu/web-dbgen/catalog/departments/LIS.html. In general, it is recommended that students begin by seeking clarification or discussing concerns with their instructor. If such conversation is not possible, or if it does not serve to address the issue, it is recommended that the student contact the Department Chair as a next step.

"Common courtesy and professional behavior dictate that you notify someone when you are recording him/her. You must obtain the instructor's permission to make audio or video recordings in this class. Such permission allows the recordings to be used for your private, study purposes only. The recordings are the intellectual property of the instructor; you have not been given any rights to reproduce or distribute the material."

It is suggested that the syllabus include the instructor's process for granting permission, whether in writing or orally and whether for the whole semester or on a class by class basis.

In classes where active participation of students or guests may be on the recording, permission of those students or guests should be obtained as well.

"Course material developed by the instructor is the intellectual property of the instructor and cannot be shared publicly without his/her approval. You may not publicly share or upload instructor generated material for this course such as exam questions, lecture notes, or homework solutions without instructor consent."

Academic integrity

Your commitment, as a student, to learning is evidenced by your enrollment at San Jose State University. The University Academic Integrity Policy F15-7 at http://www.sjsu.edu/senate/docs/F15-7.pdf requires you to be honest in all your academic course work. Faculty members are required to report all infractions to the office of Student Conduct and Ethical Development. The Student Conduct and Ethical Development website is available at http://www.sjsu.edu/studentconduct/.

Campus Policy in Compliance with the American Disabilities Act

If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, or if you need to make special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible, or see me during office hours. Presidential Directive 97-03 at http://www.sjsu.edu/president/docs/directives/PD_1997-03.pdf requires that students with disabilities requesting accommodations must register with the Accessible Education Center (AEC) at http://www.sjsu.edu/aec to establish a record of their disability.